Smart grid technologies, such as big data, machine learning, and internet-of-things, are gaining significant attention for their potential to drive the net-zero transition. A crucial development in this area is the emergence of cyber-physical systems, which integrate advanced computational algorithms with physical processes. This innovative approach further standardizes future smart grids in terms of both grid stability and security, as well as linking resilience to future decarbonization pathways.

This special session will offer valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges posed by the cyber-physical revolution in smart grids. Topics will include cyber-physical stability, security, and resilience in smart grid control, operation, and trading, all aimed at achieving a net-zero transition. A key focus will be on the inevitable cyber-physical couplings, examining how can impacts from the cyber layer affect physical layer operations, and further identifying critical components or couplings that could potentially help accelerate the smart grid's decarbonization pathways.

Presentation 1: Cyber-Physical Power System Digital Co-Simulation – Xin Zhang

This presentation introduces the real-time digital co-simulation platform for cyber-physical power system, which focuses on the co-simulation interface development between power and communication simulators. The co-simulation platform analyses the cyber vulnerabilities in microgrid control, with the optimal co-design of recursive watermarking technique and embedded Unknown Input Observer for the effective cyberattack detection.

Presentation 2: Resilient Control of Cyber Physical Microgrids under Cyberattacks – Qianwen Xu

Ensuring secure and resilient energy systems is essential for a sustainable, cyber-resilient future. This talk will present a novel resilient control approach for cyber-physical microgrids to achieve accepted performance under discrete-time false data injection (FDI) and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

Presentation 3: Adversarial Learning Method for Power Grid Resilient Defense Against Sequential Events – Jin Zhao

The presentation introduces a combined adversarial learning and deep reinforcement learning method to realize adaptive resilience defense by network reconfiguration. Accordingly, the survival of critical loads during sequential extreme events (SEE) such as hurricanes and tornadoes is greatly improved.

Presentation 4: Cyber-Physical Restoration for Power Network Resilience: A Drone-Assisted Communication Coverage Approach – Pudong Ge

This talk will propose a jointly cyber-physical framework for post-contingency service restoration aimed at enhancing resilience, which leverages mobile resources that combine both cyber and physical capabilities (i.e., drone communication hub and mobile power source). Within the proposed framework, drones are strategically assigned throughout the power grid to facilitate post-contingency communication coverage.

Presentation 5: Smart Grid Decarbonization Technologies – Dawei Qiu

This presentation introduces a carbon-aware electric vehicles (EVs) power scheduling scheme using a carbon emission flow model in the context of a cyber-physical power-transport network. Utilizing data-driven reinforcement learning algorithm with graph convolutional networks, the scheme facilitates a more informed decision-making process. The findings highlight transport electrification's role in advancing toward net-zero carbon targets.

Presentation 6: Blockchain-Based Joint Energy and Carbon Trading – Weiqi Hua

This presentation introduces a blockchain based peer-to-peer trading framework to trade energy and carbon allowance. The bidding/selling prices of prosumers can directly incentivise the reshaping of energy patterns to achieve local energy balance and net-zero energy system transition. A decentralised low carbon incentive mechanism is formulated targeting on specific energy patterns.

Expected Duration: 2 hours (20 mins total for each speaker, 15 mins presentation plus 5 mins Q&A)